"All the world's a stage, and all the men and woman merely players" begins one of the most iconic monologues written in any language. Join Jobsite Theater, resident theater company of the Straz Center, in the forest of Arden this new year for a timeless tale of love, liberation, and transformation! William Shakespeare's As You Like It runs Jan. 13 - Feb. 5, 2017, in the Straz's Shimberg Playhouse.
Jobsite has been producing Shakespeare in one form or another since 2001 including their acclaimed productions of The Complete Works of
William Shakespeare (abridged), Titus Andronicus, their original rock musical rendering of Pericles, and most recently Twelfth Night set in 1926 Ybor City. As You Like it will be set in modern day Tampa, a choice that director David M. Jenkins hopes will "help folks more immediately grab onto the relevancy of this story. The characters are all coming out of these relatively dark spaces, painful spaces be that heart-sick love or jealousy or just good ol' fashioned nihilism.
Brothers and Sisters are doing wrong to one another, there's injustice and arguments over who can better lead." Audiences should expect Shakespeare's language (though in a more compact presentation - approximately 30 minutes have been cut), but the sights and sounds clearly place the action of the play in here and now.
When the Duchess Frederick (
Becca McCoy) banishes her daughter Celia (Lauren Field) and the fair Rosalind (Emily Belvo) from court, they take to the woods in disguise. The honorable Orlando (
Derrick Phillips) is also there hiding from his brother Oliver (
Jordan Foote). Though they have already fallen for one another prior to coming to the forest through a chance meeting at a wrestling match, Rosalind hides behind the disguise of a young boy she calls Ganymede, who coaches Orlando how to win Rosalind's love. The exiles encounter a motley crew including the cynical Jaques (Shawn Paonessa), Touchstone the fool (
Roxanne Fay), her lusty love Audrey (
Katrina Stevenson), the soulful balladeer Amiens (
Spencer Meyers), a trio of colorful locals (Alvin Jenkins, Michael C. McGreevy, Jessy Quinones), and Rosalind's mother, who was banished long ago by her jealous sister (also played by McCoy). As You Like It is perhaps Shakespeare's sunniest comedy: a celebration of courtship, play-acting, and the natural world of seasons and change. The "winter and rough weather" of Arden breaks, true love and justice triumph, and the play ends in wedding bells and dancing.
Speaking of music, Jobsite has partnered with Tampa-based record label New Granada Records on the soundtrack, using tunes (some previously unreleased, some composed specifically for the show) from acts like Atlantic Oceans, Permanent Makeup, DieAlps!, and King of Spain among others.
As You Like It features designs by Brian Smallheer (set, lights), Brittany Reuther (costumes), and Jenkins (sound). Fight choreography is provided by Dan Granke, and
Giles Davies serves as both educational outreach teaching artist and text expert for the team with
Thomas Morgan and Madison Flynn serving as Acting Apprentices. Matthew Ray assistant directs, and Vivian Rodriguez stage manages.
As You Like It runs Jan. 13 - Feb. 5, 2017. Tickets start at $28. A season pass for the remaining four Jobsite performances this season is available for a flat rate of $93.60. Student matinees are offered through the run at greatly discounted rates. No cost tickets are also available to certain qualifying groups. To inquire about booking one of these performances, please call 813.222.1016. Group rates for students and others are also available to standard performances for parties of 10 or more. Please write to info@jobsitetheater.org to ask for a copy of the study guide or for a classroom visit by a teaching artist. If available, rush tickets for students, persons 65+, military/veterans and their dependents (Jobsite is a Blue Star Theatre) and Theatre Tampa Bay members are 50% off as of 30 minutes to curtain with cash and ID at the Straz Box Office window. Opening night on Fri., Jan. 13 includes pre-show treats from Rollin' Oats Tampa and a post-show mingle at Fodder & Shine. Special preview performances are Jan. 11-12 with all seats just $14.
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Jobsite is funded in part by The State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, The Arts Council of Hillsborough County, The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, The Gobioff Foundation, Fodder & Shine, Rollin' Oats Tampa, Creative Loafing, and Illumination Advertising. Jobsite is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization and all gifts made to Jobsite are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
